Despite final loss against Australia, 2003 World Cup is still special for Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly recalled Team India's ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 campaign. eighth edition of quadrennial event was held in South Africa. Men In Blue had won nine of ir 11 matches and co-incidentally lost ir two matches to n mighty Australians in league st and n in all-important final.

'2003 World Cup has a special place': Sourav Ganguly

While interacting with Indian Test opener Mayank Agarwal in a video posted on official handle of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Dada went on to say that campaign in 2003 holds a special place as side dominated every or team apart from Australia.

"2003 World Cup has a special place, we got smashed by Australia in finals, y were best team in that generation as I have said before, beating every team in tournament except for Australia, I thought it was a great achievement," Ganguly said.

 

When Ponting & Martyn shattered great Indian dream

India had made it to ir first-ever World Cup final after a long wait of 20 years. Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly won toss and elected to bowl first. His decision eventually backfired as Aussies scored 15 runs in first over bowled by Zaheer Khan and n re was looking back as destructive openers Matw Hayden (37) and Adam Gilchrist (57) added 105 runs for opening wicket. Skipper  Ricky Ponting (140*) and Damien Martyn (88) put on 234 runs for third-wicket stand to bat India out of contest as Aussies ended up scoring a mammoth 359/2 in ir 50 overs. 

In reply, India lost prized wicket of Sachin Tendulkar in very first over when he was caught & bowled off Glenn McGrath. Virender Sehwag (82) and n vice-captain Rahul Dravid (47) gave some hope with an 88-run stand. But once Sehwag was run out and Dravid was bowled, it was only a matter of time before Aussies ran through Indian middle and lower order to bundle 1983 winners out for 234 in 39.2 overs. 

READ: Sourav Ganguly Picks Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma In His 2003 World Cup Squad

(Im Courtesy: AP)